College basketball

Men’s college basketball

MAINE vs. DREXEL

Time, site: 1 p.m. Sunday, Alfond Arena, Orono

Records: Maine 13-5 (5-2 America East); Drexel 7-9 (4-3)

Series/last meeting: Drexel leads 18-6; Drexel won 82-73 on 1/30/99

Key players: (stats don’t include Friday games) Maine – 6-8 F Nate Fox (16.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg), 6-2 G Huggy Dye (16.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg), 6-1 G Andy Bedard (13.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 6.7 apg), 6-10 F Julian Dunkley (12.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg), 6-2 G Derrick Jackson (6.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg); Drexel – 6-7 F Mike Kouser (18.2 ppg, 10.5 rpg), 6-1 G Bryant Coursey (11.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 5.5 apg), 6-5 G/F Chris Burch (7.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg), 6-2 G Tom Dearborn (8.8 ppg), 6-6 F Petrick Sanders (6.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

Outlook: The Black Bears can’t afford to look at this showdown as less competitive than Friday night’s matchup with Hofstra: the Dragons have won eight straight against UMaine. Drexel teams have earned a reputation as crisp, fundamentally sound teams that will outwait an opponent to get the shot they want. Kouser has emerged as a star after the Dragons lost league first-teamer Joe Linderman for the year to injury. While UMaine lost a tough on to Hofstra Friday, the Dragons came up on the short end of a 69-66 score against league doormat New Hampshire.

Women’s college basketball

MAINE vs. HOFSTRA

Time, site: Sunday, noon; Hofstra Arena, Hempstead, N.Y.

Records: Maine 10-6 (6-1 America East); Hofstra 9-6 (5-2)

Series/last meeting: Maine leads 13-0; Maine won 69-57 on 3/4/99

Key players: (stats don’t include Friday games) Maine – 6-4 C Jamie Cassidy (19.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.0 bpg), 5-7 G Amy Vachon (11.3 ppg, 6.5 apg, 3.7 rpg, 2.5 spg), 6-4 F Martina Tinklova (7.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg), 5-11 G/F Kizzy Lopez (6.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.2 spg), 5-10 G Kristen McCormick (8.0 ppg), 6-1 F Anna James (3.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg); Hofstra – 5-8 G Noreen Duffy (12.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 5-10 F Meredith Pine (8.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg), 6-3 C/F Lisa Harris (6.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-6 G Angela Kennedy (6.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg), 5-5 G Jennifer Brickey (9.5 ppg, .447 on 3-pointers).

Outlook: The Bears can’t afford to take the Flying Dutchwomen, or any other team, for granted. UMaine must remain patient against a Hofstra team that leads the league in field goal percentage defense (.379) and is second in scoring defense (60.5 ppg). UMaine has now won six in a row after Friday’s 67-55 victory at Drexel, while Hofstra had dropped two straight before knocking off New Hampshire 51-46 Friday night. The Dutch already have matched last season’s victory total.